Gauthier did not impress in his first game of the season.
Gauthier did not impress in his first game of the season.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- On Monday, at 2 PM ET, New York Islanders forward Julien Gauthier cleared NHL waivers, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman after the team waived him on Sunday.
Gauthier, 27, slotted in for Oliver Wahlstrom on the team's fourth line against Montreal. He clocked 7:42 of ice time without recording a shot, with two hits.
It may have seemed like Gauthier's going on waivers was somehow connected to Anthony Duclair's injury, but Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello says that is not the case when we spoke with him on Monday morning.
"In fairness to him, he hadn't played, and coming off training camp, him getting into that game just showed that he needs to be playing games," Lamoriello said. "He needs to play in a game situation. So we'll get him the minutes. Hopefully, he clears, and then he can play and get himself ready so that if needed, we can call him up."
Following Monday's practice, Islanders head coach Patrick Roy was blunt about what he saw from Gauthier on Saturday.
"I thought he was okay," Roy said. "But Lou and I always talk, and I just expected more from him. I was not comfortable putting him at the end of the game. We wanted to win that game badly, and I was just not comfortable putting him out there. And I guess that tells you everything."
Gauthier is in the final season of a two-year contract, carrying an average cap hit of $787,500.
The Islanders now have $1.05 million in cap space and a roster spot. They will recall a forward from Bridgeport before the puck drops against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.